Drug Delivery Systems and Method of Reducing Foal Infection by Treating Mares with Gallium Salts

Abstract

This invention relates to drug delivery systems and methods of preventing respiratory bacterial infection in a foal of a mare. This invention relates to the reduction of transmission from the mare to the foal of bacteria though contaminated matter in the foal's environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drug delivery system for reducing the concentration of pathogenic bacteria in feces of a mare, the drug delivery system comprising:
 at least one gallium salt in a therapeutically effective amount and in a form that is substantially non-absorbable by a gastrointestinal system of the mare;
 the at least one specific said gallium salt has an effect of reducing the concentration of pathogenic bacteria in feces of the mare as compared to feces of the mare prior to receiving the at least one gallium salt; and 
   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for delivering the at least one gallium salt to a natural orifice, throat or lungs of the mare.   
     
     
         2 . The drug delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the pathogenic bacteria is  Rhodococcus equi . 
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the gallium salt is selected from a group consisting of gallium bromide, gallium chloride, gallium citrate, gallium fluoride, gallium iodide, gallium maltolate, gallium nitrate, gallium perchlorate, gallium sulfate, gallium phosphate, and gallium citrate. 
     
     
         4 . A drug delivery system for preventing respiratory bacterial infection in a foal of a mare, the delivery system comprising:
 at least one gallium salt in a therapeutically effective amount and in a form that is substantially non-absorbable by a gastrointestinal system of the mare,
 the at least one gallium salt has an effect of reducing a concentration of pathogenic bacteria present in feces of the mare as compared to feces of the mare prior to receiving the at least one gallium salt; and 
   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for delivering the at least one gallium salt to a natural orifice, throat or lungs of the mare.   
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery system of  claim 4 , wherein the pathogenic bacteria is  Rhodococcus equi . 
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery system of  claim 4 , wherein the gallium salt is selected from a group consisting of gallium bromide, gallium chloride, gallium citrate, gallium fluoride, gallium iodide, gallium maltolate, gallium nitrate, gallium perchlorate, gallium sulfate, gallium phosphate, and gallium citrate. 
     
     
         7 . A method of preventing infection in a foal of a mare, the method comprising
 administering to the mare a drug delivery system comprising   at least one gallium salt in a therapeutically effective amount and in a form that is substantially non-absorbable by a gastrointestinal system of the mare; and   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for delivering the at least one gallium salt to a natural orifice, throat or lungs of the mare, the drug delivery system has an effect of decreasing the concentration of  R. equi  in the mare's feces, and   the drug delivery system is administered within a predetermined time range prior to an anticipated date of foaling for the mare.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time range is at least one day. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time range is at least three days. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined time range is at least five days. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gallium salt is selected from a group consisting of gallium bromide, gallium chloride, gallium citrate, gallium fluoride, gallium iodide, gallium maltolate, gallium nitrate, gallium perchlorate, gallium sulfate, gallium phosphate, and gallium citrate.